Organization
World Bank
Report Year
2015
1st MAR Year
2016
Accepted
Yes
Status
Active
Recommendation

Advocate and organize support to sustainably improve the capability of national statistical agencies, both internal operational support and in partnership with external agencies.

Recommendation Adoption
IEG Rating by Year: mar-rating-popup N M NT NT Management Rating by Year: mar-rating-mng-popup N M NT NT
CComplete
HHigh
SSubstantial
MModerate
NNegligible
NANot Accepted
NRNot Rated
Findings Conclusions

With the Bank's focus on the twin goals, the DGs gaining international traction, and the pressing demand for results, data needs are increasing. Sustainability of data efforts is challenging in many countries where capacity is weak and other claims on resources take priority. Unsustained support will jeopardize data progress.

Original Management Response

WB: Agrees. Management intends to encourage stronger country engagement, through the CPF process in collaboration with other development partners, for building statistical capacity, and addressing data needs identified in the SCD.
Beyond the country level, Management will continue to advocate for greater attention and more focused assistance to fill key data gaps with an emphasis on innovative approaches, drawing from the momentum of the Financing for Development and SDG processes where data issues received substantial attention.

Action Plans
Action 1
Action 1 Number:
0364-01
Action 1 Title:
Action 2a: Strengthen WBG efforts to support statistical capacity building in client countries, through internal and external fi
Action 1 Plan:

Action 2a: Strengthen WBG efforts to support statistical capacity building in client countries, through internal and external financing and technical assistance.
Indicator: Number of countries which have been supported by IBRD/IDA and trust fundoperations typically funded by the Statistics for Results Facility Catalytic Fund (SRF-CF), the Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building(TFSCB), the STATCAP lending operations (Development Policy Financing (DPF), and the Specific Investment Loans (SIL).
Baseline: 47 (FY15)
Target: 67 (FY19)
Timeline: FY19.

Action 2
Action 2 Number:
0364-02
Action 2 Title:
Action 2b: Step up WBG support for the production of a good quality household surveys every three years in every IDA country.
Action 2 Plan:

Action 2b: Step up WBG support for the production of a good quality household surveys every three years in every IDA country.
Indicator: number of IDA countries that have at least one multi-topic hosehold survey of acceptable quality in the preceding 3 years.
Baseline:(tbd in FY16 MAR update)
Target: All 78 IDA countries that the Bank monitors must have conducted at least one survey in the period FY16-FY21, and the data should be publicly disclosed.
Timeline: FY21

Action 3
Action 4
Action 5
Action 6
Action 7
Action 8
2019
IEG Update:
No Updates
Management Update:
No Updates
2018
IEG Update:
No Updates
Management Update:
No Updates
2017
IEG Update:

Action 2a: Management reports that in FY17 the WBG provided support for statistical capacity building in 56 client countries, through a combination of IDA resources (12 projects), IBRD funding (4 projects) and trust funds (56 projects). Action 2b: Based on additional information provided via email by the Poverty GP and not included in the management update, the number of IDA (and IDA Blend) countries with household surveys in last three years (2014, 2015 and 2016) is 46 if the 2013-2014-2015 period is used instead the number is 48. This represents an improvement with respect to the baseline provided last year (36).

Management Update:

In FY17 the WBG provided support for statistical capacity building in 56 client countries, through 72 projects for a total amount of $490.2 million. This support was provided using IDA resources for 12 projects and IBRD funding for 4 projects. The remaining 56 projects were financed using trust funds, such as the Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building, the Statistics for Results facility and ECASTAT. This represents a modest increase from 51 countries supported in FY16, but it helps close the gap towards the target of 67 countries by FY19.
The attached files includes specific details on the active projects.

2016
IEG Update:

IEG did not have access to additional information to verify management's assertions. For this reason, the IEG update only reflects on management's statements

Action 2a: Management reports that in FY16 4 additional countries have been supported through IBRD/IDA funding and TF operation to strengthen their statistical capacity building. No detail is provided on what activities have been undertaken to support that capacity.

Action 2b: Management provides the baseline for future monitoring of the indicator - 36 countries have at least one multi-topic household survey of acceptable quality in the preceding 3 years. IEG appreciates the establishment of this baseline.

However Management does not specify whether all 36 household surveys are of acceptable quality and how "acceptable quality" is assessed.

Management Update:

0364-02

Action 2b: Step up WBG support for the production of a good quality household surveys every three years in every IDA country.

The number of IDA countries with a HH survey since 2013 is 36.The baseline number for the indicator should also read "36 IDA countries".

0364-01

Action 2a: Strengthen WBG efforts to support statistical capacity building in client countries, through internal and external fi

In FY16 the WBG provided support for statistical capacity building in 51 client countries, through 55 projects for a total amount of $361.3 million (active portfolio as of end FY16). This support was provided using IDA resources for 6 projects and IBRD funding for 3 projects. The remaining 46 projects were financed using trust funds, such as the Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building, the Statistics for Results facility and ECASTAT. This represents a modest increase from 47 countries supported in FY15, but it helps close the gap towards the target of 67 countries by FY19. The attached file includes specific details on the active projects.